A Gangster and a Gentleman | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | July 9, 2002 | |||
Recorded | 2001–2002 | |||
Genre | Hip hop | |||
Length | 79:43 | |||
Label | ||||
Producer | Swizz Beatz, the Alchemist, Rockwilder, Ayatollah, DJ Clue | |||
Styles P chronology | ||||
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Singles from A Gangster and a Gentleman | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [1] |
HipHopDX | [2] |
RapReviews | 6/10 [3] |
Stylus Magazine | B [4] |
XXL | XL (4/5) [5] |
A Gangster and a Gentleman is the debut studio album by American rapper Styles P. The album was released on July 9, 2002, through Ruff Ryders Entertainment and Interscope Records. Styles P was the second member of the Lox to record a solo album, after Kiss Tha Game Goodbye by Jadakiss was released in August 2001.
The album contains production by the Alchemist, Rockwilder, Ayatollah, DJ Clue and Swizz Beatz who Styles had worked with previously on various Ruff Ryders recordings including the sophomore album We Are the Streets by The LOX. Californian hip-hop producer the Alchemist contributes two tracks. Guest performers include Jadakiss, Sheek Louch, J-Hood, Eve, Angie Stone, Lil' Mo, M.O.P. and Pharoahe Monch.
The album was certified Gold by RIAA on October 11, 2002.
The lead single "Good Times" peaked at number 22 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and received massive nationwide airplay in 2002. [6] [7] The Ayatollah-produced bonus track "The Life" featuring Pharoahe Monch was also released as a single in 2002 through Rawkus Records.
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Intro" | D. Styles | Styles | 0:33 |
2. | "Good Times" | David Styles, Kasseem Dean, M. McCleod, P. Sawyer, R. Hankerson | Saint Denson, Swizz Beatz | 3:31 |
3. | "Y'all Know We In Here" (featuring P. Killer Trackz and Swizz Beatz) | Styles, A. Fields | P. Killer Trackz | 3:48 |
4. | "A Gangster and a Gentleman" | Styles P, Daniel Alan Maman | The Alchemist | 4:32 |
5. | "Black Magic" (featuring Angie Stone) | Styles P, Maman, A. Smith | The Alchemist | 4:28 |
6. | "Daddy Get That Cash" (featuring Lil' Mo) | Styles, D. Stinson, R. Grant, J. Johnson, D. McNeil | Rockwilder, DJ Twinz | 3:40 |
7. | "Lick Shots" (performed by The LOX) | Styles P, Sean Jacobs, Jason Phillips, J. Hood, Dean | Swizz Beatz | 4:24 |
8. | "And I Came To..." (featuring Eve, Sheek Louch & Swizz Beatz) | Styles P, Jacobs, E. Jeffers, Dean | Swizz Beatz | 4:43 |
9. | "Get Paid" (featuring The Brodhead Kids) | Styles P, L. Lunnon | Mr. Devine | 3:43 |
10. | "Ass Bag" (skit) | 2:00 | ||
11. | "I'm a Ruff Ryder" (featuring Jadakiss) | Styles P, Fields | P. Killer Trackz | 3:45 |
12. | "Soul Clap" | Styles P, M. Gomez, R. Mickens, C. Smith, D. Thomas, R. Westfield, R. Bell, G. Brown | DJ Shok | 3:18 |
13. | "We Thugs (My Niggas)" (performed by The LOX) | Styles P, E. Shaw, K. Ifill, R. Kimball, S. Lukather | DJ Clue, DURO | 4:04 |
14. | "Styles" (featuring Jadakiss) | Styles P, Fields | P. Killer Trackz | 3:54 |
15. | "Barbershop" (skit) | 3:42 | ||
16. | "Listen" | Styles P, D. Thornton, M. Hodges, A. Green | Tank | 2:58 |
17. | "Niggas Flippin'" (skit) | 1:12 | ||
18. | "Y'all Don't Wanna Fuck" (featuring M.O.P) | Styles P, J. Grinnage, E. Murray, F. Crum | Tuneheadz | 4:34 |
19. | "Shit Done Changed" (skit) (featuring Garf) | 2:07 | ||
20. | "Nobody Believes Me" (performed by The LOX featuring Cross) | Styles P, Gomez | DJ Shok | 3:49 |
21. | "Dedication" (skit) | 0:42 | ||
22. | "My Brother" | Styles P, L. Lunnon, D. Grusin | Mr. Devine | 4:34 |
23. | "Outro" | D. Styles | Styles P, Jay "Icepick" Jackson | 2:33 |
24. | "The Life" (featuring Pharoahe Monch) | Styles P, T. Jamerson | Ayatollah | 3:09 |
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
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Jason Terrance Phillips, better known by his stage name Jadakiss, is an American rapper from Yonkers, New York. He began his career in the 1990s as one third of the rap trio The Lox alongside Styles P and Sheek Louch. The group released their debut album, Money, Power & Respect (1998) for Bad Boy Records, while its follow up, We Are the Streets (2000) was released for Ruff Ryders Entertainment, an imprint of Interscope Records. Both albums peaked within the top five of the Billboard 200 and received critical praise; their two subsequent albums, Filthy America... It's Beautiful (2013) and Living Off Xperience (2020) were released through Jay-Z's Roc Nation saw continued positive reception.
David R. Styles, better known by his stage name Styles P, is an American rapper, best known as a member of hip hop group the Lox, alongside childhood friends Sheek Louch and Jadakiss. Along with the other members of the Lox, he is a founder of D-Block Records and was also a part of the Ruff Ryders Entertainment collective. In addition, he has released multiple albums and mixtapes as a solo MC. In 2002, he released his debut solo album A Gangster and a Gentleman, which contained the hit single "Good Times". The song peaked at number 22 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Kiss tha Game Goodbye is the debut studio album by American rapper Jadakiss. The album was released on August 7, 2001, by Ruff Ryders Entertainment and Interscope Records. The album debuted at number five on the US Billboard 200 and number two on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
Sean Divine Jacobs, better known as Sheek Louch, is an American rapper best known as a member of The LOX and founder of D-Block Records, along with Styles P and Jadakiss.
The Lox is an American hip hop group from Yonkers, New York, formed in 1994. The group is composed of East Coast rappers Sheek Louch, Styles P and Jadakiss. They had originally signed to Puff Daddy's Bad Boy Records in 1996, before joining Ruff Ryders in 1999, and have since launched their own label, D-Block.
Desire is the second solo album from hip hop artist Pharoahe Monch, released on June 26, 2007. The album comes eight years after the rapper's critically acclaimed solo debut, Internal Affairs, which followed the break-up of Monch's former group Organized Konfusion. After a short stint on Geffen Records, a number of labels began a bidding war for the rapper, including Eminem's Shady Records, Denaun Porter's Runyon Ave. Records, Bad Boy Records and Sony Records. In early 2006, it was announced that Pharoahe had signed a deal with Steve Rifkind's Street Records Corporation for the release of his second album. The first song released from the album was "Let's Go", produced by Black Milk. "Let's Go" was featured as the B-side on the album's first proper single, "Push", released in September 2006. A music video for "Push" was also released in late September 2006, and has received play on MTV Base. The video is set in the New York City blackout of 1977. A ten-minute internet-only video for the track "When the Gun Draws" was released exclusively to AllHipHop.com on January 3, 2007. Desire features production from Monch, longtime collaborator Lee Stone, The Alchemist, Denaun Porter, Black Milk and Sean C. Album guests include Erykah Badu and Denaun Porter. The single Desire is featured in the video game Madden 08.
"Ruff Ryders' Anthem" is a song by American rapper DMX, released on May 5, 1998, as the third single from his debut studio album It's Dark and Hell Is Hot (1998). In 2008, the song was ranked at number 79 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop. In the US, upon the song's initial release it had originally peaked at number 93 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, before reaching a new peak of number 16 following DMX's death in April 2021.
The Last Kiss is the third studio album by American rapper Jadakiss. The album was released on April 7, 2009, on D-Block, Ruff Ryders, Roc-A-Fella and Def Jam, after numerous delays. The album features guest appearances from Faith Evans, Swizz Beatz, Bobby V, Pharrell Williams, OJ da Juiceman, Sheek Louch, Mary J. Blige, Styles P, Ghostface Killah, Ne-Yo, Raekwon, Young Jeezy, D-Block, U.S.D.A., Lil Wayne, & Avery Storm. Production on the album is handled by The Alchemist, Buckwild, Swizz Beatz, Neo da Matrix, The Neptunes, Baby Grand, Eric Hudson, Needlz, Sean C & LV.
"Good Times" is a song by American hip hop recording artist Styles, of East Coast hip hop group the LOX. It was released as his solo debut single and served as the lead single from his debut album, A Gangster and a Gentleman (2002). The song, produced by Swizz Beatz and Saint Denson, samples "I Get High ", as performed by Freda Payne.
W.A.R. is the third studio album of American hip hop artist Pharoahe Monch released on March 22, 2011 under Duck Down Records. Producers include Lion's Share Music Group, Exile, Marco Polo, M-Phazes, Mike Loe, Fatin "10" Horton, Diamond D, Samiyam, and Fyre Dept.'s Adam Deitch and Eric Krasno, while vocal features are contributed by Idris Elba, Immortal Technique, Vernon Reid of Living Colour, Showtyme, Styles P of The LOX, Phonte, Mela Machinko, Mr. Porter, Jean Grae, Royce da 5'9", Citizen Cope and Jill Scott. Scratches are provided by DJ Boogie Blind of The X-Ecutioners.
The Source Presents: Hip Hop Hits, Volume 3 is the third annual music compilation album to be contributed by The Source magazine. Released November 30, 1999 and distributed by Def Jam Recordings, Hip Hop Hits Volume 3 features seventeen hip hop and rap hits. It went to number 29 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart and peaked at number 45 on the Billboard 200 album chart.
The discography of Styles P, an American hip hop recording artist, consists of fifteen solo studio albums, two extended plays, sixteen mixtapes, 5 collaborative albums, 30 singles and one promotional single.
The discography of American hip hop group The Lox, consists of four studio albums, one compilation album, two extended plays, one mixtape and fifteen singles.
Master of Ceremonies is the fourth studio album by American rapper Styles P. The album was released on October 4, 2011, by D-Block Records and E1 Music. The album features guest appearances from Lloyd Banks, Rick Ross, Busta Rhymes, Pharoahe Monch, Pharrell Williams and Styles' group The L.O.X. Producers on the album include Pete Rock, Statik Selektah, Warren G, Dipset AraabMuzik, and more. The lead single from Master of Ceremonies, is "Harsh", which features Rick Ross and Busta Rhymes. A second single has also been released. The song is called "It's OK", which features Jadakiss.
Troy Donald Jamerson, better known by his stage name Pharoahe Monch, is an American rapper known for his complex lyrics, intricate delivery, and internal and multisyllabic rhyme schemes.
Float is the sixth studio album by American rapper Styles P. The album was released on April 16, 2013, by Nature Sounds and High Times Records. The album was produced entirely by fellow New Yorker, American record producer Scram Jones. The album also features guest appearances from fellow American rappers N.O.R.E., Sheek Louch, Jadakiss, Raekwon, Bullpen and Scram Jones.
Ruff Ryders Entertainment is an American hip hop record label and management company founded by siblings and record executives Joaquin "Waah", Darin "Dee" and Chivon Dean in 1988. It operated as a subsidiary of Universal, and distributed by Interscope Records, with Def Jam Recordings serving as the distributor for DMX albums. The label went on to launch the careers of several successful artists such as DMX, Drag-On and the Deans' nephew, Swizz Beatz, among others. The Ruff Ryders namesake also referred to a loose-knit hip hop collective composed of the core signees of the label. The collective's de facto leader was the label's flagship artist, DMX. Ruff Ryders and its main studio Powerhouse Studios are headquartered at 33 South Broadway in Yonkers, New York.
Top 5 Dead or Alive is the fourth studio album by American hip hop recording artist Jadakiss. The album was released on November 20, 2015, by D-Block Records and Def Jam Recordings. The album features guest appearances from Akon, Future, Jeezy, Lil Wayne, Ne-Yo, Nas, Nipsey Hussle, Styles P, Puff Daddy, Sheek Louch, Swizz Beatz, Young Adz and Young Buck.
"Checkmate" is a song by the American rapper Jadakiss, released as a promotional single on March 9, 2005, by Ruff Ryders Entertainment/Interscope Records. The song uses the instrumental "Air It Out" from Big Noyd's album Only the Strong, produced by The Alchemist.
"The Life" is a song by American rapper Styles featuring American rapper Pharoahe Monch. It is the second single from the former's debut studio album A Gangster and a Gentleman (2002) and previously appeared on Rawkus Records' compilation album Soundbombing III (2002). The song was produced by Ayatollah.